William f



(No Model.)

W. E. WHEELER.

OANOPY 0R TENT.

No. 264,010. Patented Sept. 5, 1882.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR:

I BY 9 ATTORNEY;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. \VHEELER, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CLEMENT E. LLOYD, OF SAME PLACE.

CANOPY 'OR TENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,010, dated September 5, 1882..

Application filed May 25, 1882. (NomodcL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F.W1IEELER,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Canopy or Tent, which improvement'is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation, partly sectional, of the combined canopy, hammock, and chair embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view thereof, partly sectional. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a portion thereof enlarged in line a; .90, Fig. 1. Figs. 4and 5 are views of detached parts.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of a canopy or tent,

said canopy being readily converted into a tent, and its top or awning portion angularly adjustable, and provision is made for firmly sustaining the several parts. Various other details are presented, all of which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent upright poles or legs, which are connected at top by a bolt, B, which passes horizontally through the poles and forms an axis on which the poles may turn for the purpose of folding or unfolding the same. Two sets of poles as thus constructed are employed-one for each end of the tent--0ne of the poles of each set being extended above the others, as at (l, for

3 5 attachment of the top cross-bar or ridge'pole,

40 ends are secured to stakes or pins driven into the ground or other places or means for holdin g said ropes, and additional ropes, E, (shown in dotted lines,) may be employed, the same being connected with said stakes and the poles 5 A of each set for additionally sustaining the,

poles, especially when the sacking F, to be hereinafter referred to, is in service.

It will be seen that the poles A A maybe spread out as in Fig. 2, thus forming a broad base and firm support for the parts superimposed on the poles through the medium of the ridge-pole D, the weight on the ridge-pole being transmitted to the top of the poles A, thus serving to spread apart said poles and holding themfirmly on the ground or floor, the opening or separation of the poles being limited by ropes Gr,which are secured to the three poles, as more readily seen in Fig. 2.

It will also be seen that as the poles are subjected to pressure at top, which forces them apart, as above stated, the tendency of the poles to fold or shift is prevented,.and they reliably remain in operative position.

H represents the awning of the canopy, which is formed of a quadrilateral piece of suitable fabric, having attached to its ends spreaders J, which are arranged above or rest on the ridge-pole D, and secured at the middle to the upper ends of the pole A by means of ropes K, and at the ends to said pole A by means of ropes K.

It will be seen that the awning may be set in horizontal or inclined positions, as desired,

by properly operating the ropes K, and retained in the adjusted positions by tightenin g the said ropes, it being noticed that in adjusting the awning angularly it turns on the ropes K, and the ropes K of one side are taken in, the adjustment of the awning being desirable relatively to the direction of the sun, rain, wind, 850., and other occasions.

In order to hold the two sets of poles in proper position, and prevent them approaching or separating from below, I employ a stretcher, L,which rests on the ground or floor and has an opening in each end for the reception of the bottom of the legs A, said stretcher also servin g to brace and strengthen the structnre or frame of the canopy.

Attached to the rid ge-pole D, and appearing on the under side thereof at each end, are hooks or eyebolts M, from which is suspended the sacking F, which consists of a suitable piece of canvas or other material, whose ends have connected with them spreaders F for properly distending the sacking, and to said spreaders attached to the eyebolts M.

It will be seen that one end of the sacking may be raised and connected directly with the eyebolt above it, and the other end may depend from the rope N in a lowered position, in which position of parts there is provided a convenient and easy reclining-chair.

By lowering both ends of the sacking and sustaining each of them by a rope, N, the sackin g is converted into a comfortable hammock.

In order to steady the hammock as formed, and relieve the ropes N of some of the strain to which they aresubjected, I attach to each spreader F a rope, N, (shown in. dotted lines,)

and fasten it to the poles A, as shown in Fig. 1.

The sides of the awning are provided with fringe, wings, or flies P, which serve to shade the space below said sides, said flies being sewed to the edge of the awning by a welt, Q, of leather, canvas, or other suitable material. (See Fig. 3.)

A skirt, R, of netting or gauze, and a curtain, S, of canvas, duck, or other proper close material, are also attached to the edge of the awning by the welt Q, the former serving to prevent the entrance of mosquitoes, flies, 850., within the canopy, and the latter acting as a shelter from heat, cold, rain, storm, &c., similar to a tent. If desired, the curtain S may extend entirely around the canopy or only at one end or side thereof, so as in the latter case to leave the opposite end or side open to light and air.

The netting and curtain may be rolled up and held at top of the canopy by straps or other fastcnings, and, if desired, made detachable, for which purpose short skirts may be sewed to the awning, as in Fig.3,and the body of the netting and curtain provided with buttons, button-holes, straps, buckles, or other means for connection with said skirts. By

, spreading out the curtain the capacity of the bridges may be knocked down and rest on the sides on the ridge-pole, thus notmaterially elevating the center of the awning.

It is evident that all parts hereinbefore de scribed may be taken down, folded, and formed into a compact bundle, convenient for transportation and stowage, it being noticed that the three poles of each set, when folded, lie in the same plane.

The combined chair and hammock, with its means of attachment herein described,not beform part of a separate application for Letters Patent and will be claimed therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The awning, in combination with supporting-poles A A, arranged in sets at each end, the poles of each set being pivoted together at the top and arranged substantially in the same transverse vertical plane.

2. The poles A A, pivotally connected, one of them being extended,asat(l, in combination with the ridge-pole D, fitted on the extended pole and bearing on the tops of the other poles, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The poles A A, pivotally connected at their upper ends, one of them being extended above the others at O, in combination with awning H, end Spreaders, J, ropes K, connecting said spreaders to said extensions 0, and ropes K, connecting said spreaders to poles A below the top connections of the latter, substantially as set forth.

4. The poles A A, pivotally connected at the top, in combination with the bottom stretcher, L, provided with an opening at each end for the reception of the poles A, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination oftheawning, skirt, and curtain, united by means of the welt secured to the several parts, substantially as set forth.

6. The ridge-pole and awning, in combination with the cord T and bridges U, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

W. F. -WHEELER.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. GRANT.

in g the subject of the present application, will 

